Sapa Medium Trek Plus Sunday Market 3 days

This 3 day, 4 night tour is a perfect combination of trek and culture while visiting hill tribes villages AND an ethnic minority market at a pace and style that complements you. Journey away from the crowds and homestay at a traditional Dao home amongst the rice paddies. Participate in ethnic life and learn about the different cultures of Vietnam. This is an unforgettable soft adventure and market visit that should be part of everyone’s time in Vietnam.

The night before: 20:00 transfer from a prearranged meeting sport to the station for your night train to Sapa. Boarding is around 21:10. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabin and travel North to Lao Cai town.

Today’s morning: The train arrives at about 6:00. Look for the “Footprint Travel” sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will be there to pick you up (~ 1.5 hours to Sapa). When you arrive in Sapa we will make sure that you have a time for a short rest, hot shower and some breakfast before your inspiring trek.

A short transfer and we’re off. Chances to meet and talk with locals working in the fields are plentiful. Picnic lunch en route then continue trekking to Ta Phin village – home of the Red Dao people. Your Dao host family will warmly welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.

At the first of gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. After breakfast, we will complete our trek (4 hours). Alternatively, instead of trekking, you can choose to take a short morning wander around the village. For both options, you will be supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes).

Back in Sapa, check in to your hotel, shower, rest and lunch on your own. At 2:30 pm we will take an easy walk (~ 5 km) to Cat Cat village, home of Black H’mong. Take part in a traditional musical performance. Back in Sapa for dinner and the evening on your own. Overnight here.

Note: The music show in Cat Cat village is closed on Tuesday afternoon. We will arrange and alternative activity.

Sunday is a common market day for many tribes in Northwest Vietnam and Bac Ha has become renowned for its colourfulness. The market is packed different ethnic minorities coming from different villages. Their vibrant trading activities last from early morning till midday. Look for hand-made fabrics, the black smithing area, as well as the buffalo zone.

We will leave Sapa early by 8:00 to Bac Ha market. Please pay respect to the locals here and ask permission before you taking a photo of anyone.

Lunch in Bac Ha on your own account then we will leave for a boat trip along the Chay river, The boat ride is about 1.5 hours. Return to Lao Cai near the train station. Dinner on your own well before the train leaves for Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi is at about 5:00 the next morning. Please find your own way back to your hotel, a taxi normally costs you about 80,000 VND.

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Trekking Tours - Footprint Vietnam Travel

Testimonials trekking Sapa TaPhin village

Community Support: As you will see that we are going to stay one night in Ta Phin village, where the local people are working on their own community based tourism, we use their homestay, food cooking. It's about 5% of the tour cost goes directly the family we stay and the local community.

This slide shows you the general pictures of the whole destination Sapa. If you are looking for the pictures of a particular trip, please view it from the itinerary tab.

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